HALL and WALT Wines, two of the world’s most notable Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir producers, have announced the launch of BACA Wines, a new and modern California Zinfandel brand led by Craig and Kathryn Hall’s daughter, Jennifer Brown. The next generation, the family-owned brand includes four wines as part of its 2016 inaugural vintage.

“When we set out to create the BACA brand, we had one mission in mind: to produce luxury Zinfandels that are nuanced, honest, current and fun,” says Director of BACA, Jennifer Brown. “We saw a gap in the market with the Zinfandel varietal, so we decided to craft a luxury Zin brand aimed at the curious and the adventuresome – while focusing on quality.”

BACA is Latin for berry. This inspired the team sourcing fruit from some of California’s most notable growing regions—Russian River, Rockpile, Howell Mountain, and Paso Robles. The grapes are all sourced from prominent vineyards. Using masterful winemaking techniques that include optical sorting, exacting fermentations and aging in French oak barrels, BACA crafts powerful wines that reflect the unique places the grapes are grown. The result is four complex, charismatic Zinfandels that pair beautifully with both food and adventure.

The inaugural vintage of 2016 BACA wines includes:

2016 BACA “Cat’s Cradle” Zinfandel: Rockpile AVA

Winemaker Notes: Rustic flavors like brambly and stone fruit aren’t found in your typical Zinfandel flavor spectrum. Then again, with its complex undertones of terra cotta, violets, and black pepper, Cat’s Cradle isn’t a typical Zinfandel. It’s a big wine, with a sensation of the opulent extract on the mid-palate and well-built tannin carries through the lengthy finish.

2016 BACA “Tug O’ War” Zinfandel: Maffei Vineyard, Russian River Valley 

Winemaker Notes: This is a serious wine that seriously ups the ante. Its nose is classic Russian River: fresh, dark fruits like strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and pomegranate. But despite its ripe, fruity nose, its palate is decided, surprisingly vibrant – dense, concentrated, structured, layered, with a glorious acidity. Tug O’ War is long-lived so it will age well.

2016 BACA “I Spy” Zinfandel: Howell Mountain AVA

Winemaker Notes: I Spy …with my little eye a meadow of grasses, flowers, fresh raspberries, blackberries, and black pepper. Breathe it in and you have I Spy, a gorgeously perfumed Zinfandel with a refreshing mid-palate weight and a juicy finish. It’s a wine for explorers, ideal for adventures off the beaten path.

BACA “Double Dutch” Zinfandel: Dusi Vineyard: Paso Robles

Winemaker Notes: Hold on tight – this one has a big personality with aromas of black cherry and black currant, nuanced by notes of celery seed, black pepper, and licorice. It’s concentrated, with fantastic acidity and a plush mouthfeel with just the right amount of tannic structure on the back palate. The finish is luxurious and long.

“I grew up in a creative household and I’ve always viewed the world through an artistic eye; I draw, paint, and make prints,” says BACA Winemaker, Alison Frichtl Hollister. “That way of looking at the world, fresh, new and intuitive, direct and focuses how I look at this project. At a basic level winemaking is chemistry and microbiology, but it takes someone with an ability to find beauty in the organic, chaotic part of the process. And that’s where my growing up with an eye for art and my degree in biology just made a good synthesis.”

The BACA Launch Party was held on Saturday, May 5 at HALL St. Helena and included the unveiling of the four wines, live music by Shamati, a silent disco featuring dueling DJ’s, and larger than life games and experiences. Guests enjoyed food pairings by Feast Catering as well and heard from Brown and Hollister about the uniqueness of the new brand. The female-led brand appeals to an experience-oriented wine consumer who is interested in precision wine crafting and who above all loves rich, flavorful wines that reflect their origin – while aiming to allow consumers to have a little fun. A number of social media influencers, local news anchors, producers, and celebrities were on-site sharing news about the high-quality Zinfandel on their various social channels and using the handle @bacawines and hashtag #bacawines. Featured above Vintners Craig and Kathryn Hall and daughter Jennifer Brown celebrate the launch of BACA Wines at the May 5 Launch Party in Napa Valley. 

Read More at source: Wine Industry Advisor